Chapter 80
A moment later, a figure flashed in her sight, seemingly approaching her.
When Yin Qiufu saw the blurry white figure, she couldn't help but feel overjoyed. But when she looked up, she didn't see the person she expected. Instead, it was Elder Xu from Wenxin Peak.
Like seeing a ray of light in the darkness, Fu Xiang was overjoyed and exclaimed, "Elder Xu! You..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Elder Xu walked past the two of them without even glancing at them, and strode steadily toward the stands.
At this moment, there was no one else on the stands except for Man Jiangxue, who remained silent, and Meng Jing, who was the least noticeable person in the entire event.
She didn't know kung fu, so she naturally couldn't participate in the event. All day long, Meng Jing slunk away in a dim corner, not talking to anyone, and no one spoke to her. Even when she saw Yin Qiu injured, she had no mood to care for her. She simply isolated herself from everyone else, as lonely as an inconspicuous lone bird.
If Elder Xu hadn't walked over to her, everyone would have completely forgotten that she even existed.
"Your name is Meng Jing, right?"
Hearing the sound, Meng Jing, who had long been bored to sleep, finally woke up. She looked at Elder Xu with a blank expression and uttered her first words of the day: "What?"
"I've seen the assignments your teachers submitted," Elder Xu said with a kind and gentle face. "Your handwriting is good, and your writing is also quite good. I heard you have a heart ailment and can't practice martial arts. That's perfect. Our Wenxin Peak specializes in medicine and also manages two library buildings. Why don't you come and study under me and learn medicine? Would you be willing?"
Meng Jing looked dazed, still half asleep. She remained silent for a long time before suddenly realizing something and asking incredulously, "You... are you going to take me as your disciple?"
Elder Xu grasped her hand and replied, "That's right."
Meng Jing's eyes widened, and he stared blankly for a long time before finally standing up and stammering, "I...I...oh no...this disciple...this disciple is willing!"
Seeing this, Fu Xiang was stunned, as if she had been hit on the head with a club, and exclaimed, "This... even that kid has a master now, Xiao Qiu... Xiao Qiu!"
Yin Qiu held back her tears and couldn't speak, but the look in her eyes as she looked at Meng Jing was one of genuine relief.
The conference had ended, and the elders, having accepted their disciples and found those they were satisfied with, began to head back home with their families. Elder Xu, along with Meng Jing, came over and, together with the disciples of Wenxin Peak, descended the stage from the other side.
Fu Xiang was completely at a loss and could only look for Xie Yijun. Just then, she heard Xie Yijun call out to her, "Fu Xiang, come with me."
Fu Xiang was extremely anxious and immediately used her lightness skill to fly towards her: "Master... Master! Xiao Qiu, she..."
Xie Yijun gave her a wink and said, "What's all the noise about? Go downstairs."
Fu Xiang, completely oblivious to the situation, exclaimed, "Master!"
Xie Yijun gave her a cold look: "Just go down when I tell you to. You've only been my disciple for a short time and you're already disobeying me?" As she spoke, she looked away.
Fu Xiang then noticed that Xie Yijun's expression was strange. Following Xie Yijun's gaze, she saw that the elders and disciples who had already left were hiding in the area outside the Sword Debate Platform. Everyone had a meaningful smile on their face. Fu Xiang was stunned for a moment, then suddenly came to her senses. She immediately shook off the gloom in her heart and left the place with Xie Yijun without saying a word.
"Fu Xiang..." Seeing that even she had left him behind, Yin Qiu was very puzzled and subconsciously followed Fu Xiang's back for a couple of steps.
In an instant, the entire arena was empty, leaving only her standing there dumbfounded.
Looking around blankly, there was no one else in sight, not even the snow-white figure on the stands. Yin Qiu's mind was blank, and she stood there for a long time.
The autumn wind swept in a gust of withered yellow leaves, like a sudden autumn rain. Yin Qiu stood there helplessly, her thin figure exuding helplessness, confusion, and an indescribable desolation.
·
Suddenly, a tear fell and landed on a fallen leaf on the ground with a soft sound, followed by a second tear, and a third tear.
Like beads from a broken string, the warm liquid rolled out one after another. Yin Qiu could no longer hold back the sorrow and grief in her heart, and her tears flowed uncontrollably.
She sobbed and cried, covering her face as she slowly squatted down, tears streaming down her cheeks and down her neck, soaking her collar.
Suddenly, a familiar, delicate fragrance seemed to waft through the air.
Tears streamed down Yin Qiu's face. When she smelled the fragrance, she paused involuntarily, but she did not get up or turn around.
She was afraid it was just her imagination.
But the next moment, she suddenly felt a weight on her shoulder, and at the same time, a faint warmth came over her. Yin Qiu was stunned, moved her hand away and looked down, and saw that she had a snow-white coat draped over her shoulder and a slender, fair hand.
Yin Qiu stared at the hand, tears still streaming down her face. She paused for a moment, then raised her hand and wiped her eyes hard with her sleeve. When she looked again, the hand was still on her shoulder, not leaving.
Then, a pleasant voice whispered in her ear, "Why are you crying?"
Upon hearing that voice, Yin Qiu's eyelashes trembled slightly, her breath hitched, she froze for a moment, and then abruptly turned around.
Amidst the swirling rain of leaves, Man Jiangxue stood behind her, her beautiful face radiating an exceptionally gentle smile as she gazed at her with tender eyes.
Yin Qiu looked back at Man Jiangxue hesitantly, her voice hoarse as she said, "Uncle-Master..."
Man Jiangxue reached out and helped her up, saying softly, "Everyone has left, why aren't you leaving yet?"
Yin Qiu's eyes were red, and she asked blankly, "Where are we going...?"
Man Jiangxue asked, "Where do you want to go?"
Yin Qiu moved her lips, but no sound came out.
Man Jiangxue wiped away her tears and said softly, "Tell me yourself, where do you want to go?"
"Then, Uncle-Master...where does he want me to go?"
"I want to hear what you have to say."
“I…” Yin Qiu stammered, “I don’t know…”
Man Jiangxue looked at her, her eyes filled with laughter, and said, "If you don't know, then your martial aunt doesn't know either."
Yin Qiu's whole body stiffened, every inch of her skin taut. She looked at Man Jiangxue and after a long while, she mustered up the courage to say, "I...I want to be with my martial uncle."
Man Jiangxue hummed in agreement, gently took her hand, and said, "Then let's go."
Yin Qiu, as if she had lost her soul, asked blankly, "...Where to?"
"Naturally, we'll go to Jingyue Peak."
"Jingyue Peak?"
"Didn't you want to be with me?"
Upon hearing what she said, a glimmer of light gradually appeared in Yin Qiu's eyes, but it quickly faded away.
"Didn't my martial uncle say he wouldn't accept disciples?"
Seeing her distraught appearance, Man Jiangxue sighed inwardly and said, "I only said I wouldn't take on any disciples, but I didn't say I wouldn't let you go to Jingyue Peak." She pulled Yin Qiu into her arms and said softly, "Why are you so foolish? Don't you know to ask me first?"
Yin Qiu instinctively grabbed her collar, bewildered, and said, "But...but what if Martial Aunt doesn't agree..."
Man Jiangxue interrupted her, saying, "Then why don't you know how to sweet-talk me or beg me?"
Yin Qiu was stunned for a moment before she suddenly realized what Man Jiangxue had said. She choked up twice, and an overwhelming joy welled up in her heart, like a torrent of water that instantly engulfed her completely.
"Please, please..." Yin Qiu murmured softly at first, then broke down in tears, eventually bursting into loud sobs.
"Please...please!"
Man Jiangxue tightened her grip on her arm.
Seeing her crying so hard, as if she were afraid of abandoning her, Man Jiangxue was immediately filled with an indescribable sense of self-reproach and tenderness.
She had already informed the elders, making it clear that she wanted Yin Qiu, and anyone who wanted to take her away would have to prove their strength. The elders watched in horror as she drew the Frost Condensation Sword, and immediately took a few steps back, admitting their inferiority and quickly replying that they would never dare to compete with her for Yin Qiu.
She actually wanted to give Yin Qiu a surprise, so she pretended to be indifferent. Everyone else also tacitly agreed to act along with her. In fact, everyone's behavior was quite obvious, but who knew that this child would be so slow to react and believe it to be true, and now she is heartbroken and in this state.
"Alright, alright, Xiao Qiu, don't cry," Man Jiangxue sighed, hugging Yin Qiu tightly. "It's my fault, I shouldn't have played with you like that. I apologize, please don't cry anymore, okay?"
At this moment, a myriad of emotions surged into her heart, like towering waves, shaking Yin Qiu's mind. She was both surprised and delighted, but more than anything, she felt wronged. The more Man Jiangxue tried to coax her, the more she couldn't hold back her tears, crying her heart out.
"Xiao Qiu, be good, stop crying." Man Jiangxue didn't know how to comfort her, so she could only hold her and gently soothe her.
After a long while, Yin Qiu finally calmed down a bit and sobbed, "I thought my martial uncle really didn't want me anymore..."
Man Jiangxue said, "How could my martial uncle not want you?"
Yin Qiu couldn't help but say, "Actually, although my master has always taught me to be confident, my confidence is just an act. Deep down, I always feel that my master is very far away from me. Even if you are standing in front of me, I feel like I can never really get close to you."
Hearing her say that, Man Jiangxue was naturally somewhat surprised: "Why would you think that?"
Yin Qiu stared at her blankly: "I don't know either..." After saying this, she thought for a moment and then said, "Maybe it's because my master is not just my master, but also many people's master. Perhaps one day in the future, my master will be just as good to other people. When that time comes, I won't be the only one who is remembered by my master."
Man Jiangxue said, "Do you want to be the only person I care about?"
Yin Qiu said, "Of course I want to." She paused for a moment, then continued, "I know it sounds unreasonable and greedy, but I just want to be the only one in my master's eyes. That's why I want to go to Jingyue Peak so much, because no one else can go to Jingyue Peak. If I go, I can prove that I am different from others, and I can also prove that, at least for now, I am the only one in my master's eyes."
In the past, Yin Qiu would never have uttered these words.
Because she had realized that her feelings for Man Jiangxue had changed. Before, she was grateful and fortunate, regarding Man Jiangxue as a benefactor in her life. This benefactor was willing to treat her well and smile at her, so she had prayed almost desperately from a very early age that she wanted to be with this person forever.
However, as time went by, Yin Qiu suddenly realized that it was not a wishful thinking. She seemed to be able to stay with this person forever. Even though Man Jiangxue was so high and mighty and untouchable to outsiders, Man Jiangxue was never an unapproachable person to Yin Qiu. Putting aside the identity of her martial aunt, she was actually more like an approachable older sister.
The reason she felt that Manjiangxue was neither close nor far was simply because Yin Qiu had long been plagued by anxieties about gain and loss. She already possessed it, yet she was still anxiously worried that it might all be a dream. She couldn't distinguish between reality and illusion because she wanted more and more in her heart. She wanted to be the only one, to be unique.
Therefore, she desperately hoped that her martial uncle would only have her by his side, and that she would no longer regard other people as important. She could also make sure that her heart and eyes were only on her martial uncle, but she just didn't know if her martial uncle could do that.
She didn't really understand what such thoughts meant, nor did she understand that her feelings for Man Jiangxue had developed into a desire to possess her entirely. But Yin Qiu knew that such thoughts were generally considered somewhat shameful, so she usually kept them firmly hidden in her heart, reminding herself not to tell her martial uncle.
But today, she felt that if she didn't speak up now, she might never have another chance.
Perhaps after she said it, Man Jiangxue really did see her as the only one, just as she thought?
·
"Actually, you already are, you just haven't realized it yet."
Yin Qiu kept her head down, and her heart skipped a beat when she heard this.
Man Jiangxue said, "Or perhaps you have already realized it, but dare not believe it."
Yin Qiu frowned, and said thoughtfully, "Is that so...?"
“I’m just an ordinary person,” Man Jiangxue said. “If you can understand this, many things will become clear.”
Yin Qiu looked at her blankly.
Man Jiangxue smiled and said, "The fact that you have such thoughts only shows that I haven't done enough. If I had given you enough security, perhaps you wouldn't think this way."
Yin Qiu was a little surprised: "But, Uncle-Master has already been good enough to me."
“Look, you’re very sensible,” Man Jiangxue said. “If it were anyone else, they would have asked me for anything. It’s because you’re so well-behaved that you don’t feel obligated to give in to your desires, but you still want them, which is why you’re so conflicted.”
After listening to her analyze her worries clearly in just a few words, Yin Qiu suddenly realized that she had been worrying herself unnecessarily.
She paused, then said with a hint of bitterness, "So that's how it is?" After she finished speaking, she shifted her gaze to Man Jiangxue's face, "But I've already said what I want, and my martial uncle already knows it. So, can my martial uncle grant my wish?"
“Why not?” Man Jiangxue said. “As I said before, once a promise is made, there is no reason to break it, but the premise is that you have to take the initiative to say what you want.”
Yin Qiu hurriedly said, "I want to go to Jingyue Peak, I want to be with my martial uncle. I want my martial uncle to be good to me alone, not just now, but also in the future!"
Hearing this, Man Jiangxue laughed again: "Hmm? Let me think, aren't you being a little too greedy?"
"I'm going to be greedy!" At this moment, Yin Qiu finally had enough confidence. Her eyes lit up again, and she said, "Uncle-Master, you must promise me!"
Seeing those beautiful eyes regain their anticipation and longing, looking at her with such affection and trust, Man Jiangxue felt gratified and said softly, "Okay, Uncle-Master agrees."
Yin Qiu felt a lump in her throat, and tears quickly filled her eyes.
She was overjoyed, but couldn't say anything.
Man Jiangxue said, "Are you going to cry tears of joy again?"
Yin Qiu first shed tears, then burst into laughter through her tears, and threw herself into Man Jiangxue's arms, saying, "I want to cry tears of joy, I like to cry tears of joy."
Man Jiangxue said, "Alright, alright, you can do whatever you want."
Seeing that the two had finally finished speaking, the elders and disciples who had been hiding came out.
"Great! Yin Qiu! You're the first person to go to Jingyue Peak!"
"Uncle-Master, are you considering taking a few more? We'd like to go too!"
"Shut up! I just asked you to come here, and now you're going to betray me right in front of me?"
"Haha! Yin Qiu won the bet again! The coins he just got are gone again!"
Yin Qiu was still immersed in the joy and had not yet fully recovered her composure when she was surrounded by a group of disciples. She looked at them in astonishment as they handed her copper coins, and hurriedly reached out to take them. Before long, her snow-white money bag was full.
Man Jiangxue stood behind her, looking at the money pouch and said, "How did this thing end up in your hands again?"
Yin Qiu was a little embarrassed and quickly hid the money pouch, saying, "Fu Xiang gave it to me, so it's mine."
She then smiled and excitedly said, "I won the bet! I'm the big winner!"
The disciples cheered and spun Yin Qiu around. Fu Xiang, standing beside Xie Yijun, finally smiled as well as she saw Yin Qiu's smile.
"Uncle-Master!" Yin Qiu shouted from the crowd.
"What's wrong?" Man Jiangxue asked.
Yin Qiu chuckled, leaped out from among the disciples, and pounced on Man Jiangxue: "Let's go back to Jingyue Peak!"
Man Jiangxue casually hugged her and said with a smile, "Okay."
Author's Note: *Sobbing*
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